When we go to a store or a restaurant, there are many options to choose from when it comes to drinking water, right? Tap water, bottled water... Have you ever heard of the name 'Distilled Water'? Some say that this is the purest water to drink. What is the truth in this story? Is there any benefit to drinking this? Or is it a disadvantage? Let's talk about this in detail and simply today.
What is this distilled water?
Simply put, distilled water is water that is made by boiling water, collecting the steam that comes out of it, and then cooling it back down to a liquid. We call this process distillation.
Just think, our regular water, whether it's tap water, spring water, or bottled water, can contain many things that are invisible to the naked eye. For example, there may be very small amounts of minerals, bacteria, and pesticides. But these are usually at safe levels that are not harmful to health.
But when distilled, almost all of these impurities dissolved in the water are removed. More than 99.9% of the minerals in the water are removed in this process. That's why some call it "the purest water."
Let's understand the difference between types of water.
If we clearly understand the different types of water we drink, we will better understand what distilled water is.
| Water Type | Simple Explanation |
|---|---|
| Tap Water | This is the water that comes from our taps at home. It is usually treated with chlorine to kill germs, filtered to remove impurities, and added with fluoride to prevent tooth decay. |
| Filtered Water | This is tap water that has been purified by passing it through a filter. The filter removes chlorine, bacteria, and some chemicals, improving the taste and quality of the water. |
| Purified Water | This water is largely free of microorganisms and chemicals. It is made using special methods such as distillation and reverse osmosis. |
| Distilled Water | This is also a type of purified water. However, it is made by boiling water, adding steam, and then turning it back into a liquid. This removes salts, minerals, and all other organic matter. |
Is Distilled Water Really Safe to Drink? How Does It Taste?
Yes, distilled water is completely safe to drink. But you may find it tastes a little strange, like a dish with no seasoning, with a "bitter" taste.
The reason for this is that all the minerals that are important to the body, such as Calcium, Sodium, and Magnesium, that give our regular tap water that familiar taste, are removed during distillation. In the end, all that remains is hydrogen and oxygen. That is, pure H₂O molecules.
So what is this water used for?
Distilled water is most important when something requires extreme purity.
Medical and industrial uses
- Medical equipment and surgeries: This water is used to clean things like surgical instruments in hospitals to prevent infections and contamination.
- For kidney patients: Kidney dialysis machines use very pure water. This does not interfere with the process of filtering waste products from the blood.
- Laboratory tests: Distilled water is used to ensure that the results of laboratory tests are not affected.
- Cosmetics: If the moisturizer, deodorant, or shampoo you use lists "water" as an ingredient, it's probably distilled water.
- For vehicles: Since distilled water does not contain minerals, it does not corrode the metal parts of vehicle engines. It is also ideal for batteries.
Useful at home situations
- To make baby formula: If your baby's immune system is weak, you can use distilled water to make formula as directed by your doctor. Otherwise, regular boiled water is sufficient.
- For CPAP machines: If you use a ``(CPAP)`` machine for sleep apnea, you can use the machine for longer by adding distilled water to its humidifier.
- Nasal Cleansing (Neti Pot): Distilled water is very safe for a 'Neti Pot' used to clean the nose for sinus conditions.
- Ironing: Adding distilled water to your iron can prevent the pores of the iron from becoming clogged due to the salts in the water.
Is there any risk in using distilled water?
This is the most important part. Distilled water does not contain any electrolytes or other minerals, such as potassium, which are essential for the body.
Think about it, when we sweat, not only water is lost from our bodies, but also salts (electrolytes). When we drink regular water, some of those salts are returned to our bodies. But distilled water doesn't have those things.
Therefore, if you drink only distilled water as your only drinking water for a long time, without drinking any other water , you may be missing out on these micronutrients that the body needs.
Some studies have found that drinking water low in calcium and magnesium may be linked to fatigue, muscle cramps, weakness, and heart disease . It is also said that mineral water is better for hydrating the body than distilled water.
How to make distilled water at home?
Although this is a time-consuming task, it can be done at home if desired.
1. Take a large bowl and fill it halfway with water.
2. Now, attach a cup to the inside of the lid of the jar, so that it rests over the mouth. When the jar is closed, this cup should be above the water level in the jar.
3. Boil the water well for about 20 minutes.
4. The vapor that forms when water boils rises, hits the cold lid of the container, condenses back into water droplets, and collects in the cup. The water that collects in the cup is distilled water.
Take-Home Message
- Distilled water is the purest type of water, free of any minerals, made by re-condensing the steam of boiled water into a liquid.
- It is safe to drink, but it is tasteless because all the flavor and nutritional minerals have been removed.
- This is ideal for items that require extreme cleanliness, such as medical equipment, CPAP machines, and car batteries.
- It is not recommended to drink distilled water as your only drinking water for a long time, as it can cause health problems by depleting the body of essential minerals.
- If you need to use distilled water due to a health condition, talk to your doctor about it and get proper advice.
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